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15 Days ~ Italy ~ Sicily ~
San Marino
Tour Pace
An evenly paced tour with two-night
stays in five
of the seven cities, with overnights in
Assisi and Agrigento. The majority of the
driving days are of reasonable length
and with frequent stops, often with great
photo opportunities.
DAY 1 – SAT – UK -
ROME
After your scheduled flight to
Rome’s Fiumicino Leonardo da
Vinci Airport there are complimentary
transfers to your tour hotel at 09.30,
12.30 & 15.30 hours. Relax on the
Via Veneto or stroll the Piazza Navona
before joining your Tour Director and
fellow
travellers for a Welcome Drink. Hotel:
Cicerone.
DAY 2 – SUN – ROME
SIGHTSEEING
Tour St Peter’s Basilica, seeing
the Popes’ Altar by Bernini. Now
visit the Colosseum, scene of great
entertainment in Imperial
times and overlook the Roman Forum. Time
at leisure this afternoon. (BB)
DAY 3 – MON –
ROME – OVERNIGHT
FERRY
Meet your local guide for a
sightseeing tour of
the priceless art in the Vatican
Museums before admiring Michelangelo’s
amazing ceiling in the Sistine Chapel.
Drive through vine-covered hills to visit
the peaceful Commonwealth War Cemetery
at Cassino. Stop at Pompeii, where a local
expert will guide you around the
excavations of the city, buried by an
eruption
in 79AD. Drive through the city of
Naples before boarding an overnight
ferry to
Sicily. (BB)
DAY 4 –
TUE – PALERMO –
AGRIGENTO
Arrive in the early morning in
Palermo where a
guided tour will show you the cathedral,
the Arab-Norman Palatine Chapel and the
magnificent Monreale. Then it’s off
to the Valley of the Temples near
Agrigento,
considered the finest Greek sanctuary in
Sicily. See the impressive Temple of
Concord
and Temple of Juno, overlooking the sea.
Hotel: Dioscuri Palace. (BB,D)
DAY 5 – WED –
AGRIGENTO – GIARDINI NAXOS
Travel into the heart of Sicily to
visit the Roman
Villa of Casale, noted for the mosaics
which cover almost the entire floor.
Descend
to the east coast and follow the
coastline of the Cyclops Riviera to
Giardini Naxos. Hotel: Sant Alphio.
(BB,D)
DAY 6 – THU
– TAORMINA EXCURSION
Tour the hillside town of Taormina.
Founded in
400 BC, Taormina is beautifully located,
facing the snowy peak of Mount Etna. Visit
the Greek Theatre before free time to
explore the sub-tropical terraced gardens,
or stroll along elegant Corso Umberto to
Piazza 9 Aprile for panoramic views across
the bay. Return to Giardini Naxos where
the rest of the day is at leisure.
(BB,D)
DAY 7 – FRI
– GIARDINI NAXOS
– SORRENTO
Drive to Messina to board the ferry
back to the
Italian mainland. Continuing north past
Salerno, take the cliff-top road to
Sorrento.
Hotel: Parco del Sole.
(BB)
DAY 8 – SAT
– ISLE OF CAPRI
EXCURSION
See the art of ‘intarsio’,
or marquetry
wood inlaying, before cruising to the
island of Capri. A funicular train takes
you
up to Capri town to spend time browsing
the shops and admiring the Mediterranean
views. Perhaps visit Anacapri before
returning to Sorrento. (BB,D)
DAY 9 – SUN –
SORRENTO – ASSISI
Drive north into Umbria and continue
to the walled
town of Assisi, spread across the slopes
of Monte Subasio. Stroll through the narrow
streets and visit the Basilica of St
Francis with its famous frescoes by Giotto
before spending the afternoon at
leisure. The energetic can climb up to
the castle
for fine views over the valley. Hotel:
Windsor Savoia. (BB,D)
DAY
10 – MON – ASSISI –
VENICE
Visit the Basilica of St Mary of the
Angels, built
to commemorate the site where St Francis
died. Then a delightful mountain drive
takes you through the heart of the
Apennines to the independent Republic of
San
Marino, couched within medieval ramparts
at the top of a dramatic cliff. Explore
the old town, and perhaps shop at
duty-free prices, before continuing to
romantic
Venice, where your hotel overlooks the
Venetian Lagoon. Hotel: Dei Dogi.
(BB,D)
DAY 11 – TUE
– VENICE SIGHTSEEING
Relax and enjoy the scenery as you
travel by private
launch to St Mark’s Square. See the
Bridge of Sighs, connecting the Doges’
Palace to the prisons. See the
ornate St Mark’s Basilica,
followed
by a demonstration of Venetian glass
blowing. To truly appreciate this unique
city,
step aboard your gondola to glide along
the peaceful canals. Now you are at
leisure.
Why not cruise to Burano Island for a
delicious seafood meal? (BB)
DAY 12 – WED –
VENICE – FLORENCE
Cross the fertile valley of the river
Po before
heading into the Apennines to the Tuscan
capital, Florence. A guided tour takes
you to the original ‘Statue of
David’ inside the Academy Gallery.
Walk
to the Cathedral to see Giotto’s
Belltower and the ‘Gates of
Paradise’ before continuing to
Signoria Square, adorned with statues
and fountains, before
visiting the basilica of Santa Croce,
where Michelangelo lies buried. Finally,
watch
a leatherwork demonstration before
enjoying some time at leisure. Hotel:
Sheraton.
(BB,D)
DAY 13 – THU
– FLORENCE AT LEISURE
A whole day is set aside to explore
this glorious
city, the treasure house of the Italian
Renaissance. Take an excursion to see the
Leaning Tower of Pisa or indulge in a
delicious local meal with rich Chianti
wine.
(BB)
DAY 14 – FRI
– FLORENCE – ROME
Travel through the Chianti vineyards
and olive
groves to Siena, Renaissance rival of
Florence. Walk through the narrow cobbled
streets to the vast Campo Square, where
the Palio horse race takes place. See the
Town Hall, Della Quercia's
‘Fountain of Joy’, and climb
up to the hilltop
Cathedral before returning to Rome. Stop
by the Spanish Steps before enjoying a
Highlight farewell dinner with pasta and
music. Hotel: Sheraton. (BB,HD)
DAY 15 – SAT –
ROME
The tour ends with transfers to Rome
Airport at 07.00 & 09.30 hours.
(BB)
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